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Calgary The Alberta Labour Relations Board released the union representation vote results today for the Calgary Health Region. CUPE received 1,325 votes compared to 1,743 votes for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. The results for the Capital Health Region were released earlier today. CUPE received 1,124 votes compared to 1,479 votes for AUPE.

CUPE members and staff fought a tough campaign and even though we say goodbye to some strong and committed CUPE members, we will continue to fight on their behalf, said Dianne Wyntjes, CUPEs Alberta Regional Director.

CUPE members can be very proud of our campaign in talking to health care members about their collective agreement and concerns about contracting out, privatization and the governments plans for public-private partnerships. All health care unions and the public must be concerned about this governments agenda, said CUPE Alberta president Bruce McLeod.

In Calgary in particular, the plan for a public-private partnership hospital is an enormous threat to health care workers and to our public health care system. Support workers are vital to the health care system and we want to make sure everyone knows that. We will continue our work with community partners and health care advocates for a stronger public system, said McLeod.

CUPE has a strong and proud record of fighting against privatization and winning. We will keep up those fights and we will be there for all health care workers regardless of the union to which they belong. As always, CUPE will continue to speak out for public health care for all Albertans, he said.

As a result of the provincial governments Bill 27, the Alberta Labour Relations Board ordered the vote last April. The provincial government streamlined health delivery from 17 regions to 9, requiring one bargaining unit for each of four occupational groups employed by the health regions. Approximately 17,000 general support workers were asked to choose the union to represent them.

At the outset, CUPE was declared the union for the Chinook Regional Health Region and the Palliser Health Region as the union represented over 80 per cent of the general support service workers in both those two regions. Counting the votes for the remaining regions will take place Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

In addition to representing members in two health regions, CUPE also represents health care workers in the long-term care sector and at facilities not run by the health regions.

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CUPE is Canada’s largest union with over half a million women and men who provide public services. In Alberta, CUPEs 32,000 members work in health care, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities, libraries, emergency medical services, social services and casinos. Visit our CUPE websites for more information www.cupe.ca and www.cupealberta.ab.ca.

For more information:Pam BeattieCUPE Communications(780) 484-7644 or (780) 288-1230 (cellular)